“Send it to CVS” (a Flu Season Story)

Young parents brought their son to my clinic on Saturday. The boy’s test for influenza came out positive. How the dad reacts is priceless. [Continue reading…]

When to Suspect Pneumonia

Over the past two weeks I have noticed unusually frequent cases of pneumonia among children coming to my practice. Pneumonia has to be promptly treated with antibiotics: a recent study showed that in critically ill children with pneumonia, delays of even a few hours to treatment with the correct antibiotic increase risk for severe complications [1].

What is pneumonia and when should you suspect it? Pneumonia is an infection in the lung (or both lungs). It usually starts acutely with high fever and cough. Children with pneumonia look sick, they have decreased energy and appetite, they may vomit from cough and their breathing is fast and labored. Also pneumonia happens more often in kids who have history of asthma, since their [Continue reading…]

Parent, Heal Your Child

Parents play a crucial role in healing their children. As a doctor, I can make a correct diagnosis and prescribe the necessary medicine, but it is the parent who does most of the work while treating the child at home. I am very grateful to those parents of my little patients who are doing their part consistently and following the plan that we decided upon during their visits.

I know obtaining and giving the prescribed medicine can be difficult – I have kids, too – but it is an essential part of the treatment. Are you concerned about the possibility of a side effect? Or maybe a friend or family member advised you against a particular medicine? In case of doubts [Continue reading…]